The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-06
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
Consideration of a Variety of Municipal
Matters of No Great Importance.
Another New Ordinance for the Improvement
of Washington Street-HOw Councilmen
View the Consumers Gas Trust.

present impaired to the proceedings q spirit OF
discussion that has not been observed recently
in the deliberations Of that body. The matter
that first attracted attention revealed partially
the history of an old note which the city had
agreed to pay. Fourteen years ago two lots on
Sixth street were purchased from ]. 81. Ross as
a site for engine house. Ross bought the
land from Sarah Ann Coates aud with cash
sum gave her two notes dated April Is, 1873. due
in one year The notes were secured by mort
gage. As part of the agreement of purchase the
city assumed this Indebtedness and until
last night the Council had heard nothing
of the notes The city attorney reported
that he had thoroughly investigated
the demand of Mrs. Coates, and in
all the records and papers of the city during the
past fourteen years, had found nothing to show
that appropriation had ever been made to
pay the note in question. He came across in
the citys papers one OF the notes which, it is
supposed, bad been paid, but there was no rec
ord TO that effect. The principal of the note
now presented for payment was $780, the total
amount due, with interest at 10 per cent and
attorneys fees, being $651. 40 The city attor-
ney thought it just claim, but Council
man Pearson moved that only the principal and
interest up to maturity be paid. Councilman
Swain said that would not be an equitable set
Element. He favored paying 10 per cent inter
est to maturity and per cent for the balance
of the time the note has remained unpaid.
Councilman Thalman supported the motion
because the note was known to be overdue,
and the holder had right to withhold
it so long solely because she knew she could not
get that rate Of interest from any other source.
It could have been paid years ago if she had
presented it. He preferred TO have the city
sued for the amount rather than encourage
such practices. Councilman Pearson called at
tention to money lying in the treasury to redeem
certain per cent. bonds, which the holders
withheld because they were good investment.
This series of bonds long overdue. and all
but ak or seven have been paid. The interest on
them should stop at once. On his second mo-
ton, the matter of the Coates note was
referred to the judiciary committee and the
city attorney for further investigation
An ordinance was introduced to improve
Washington street with granite blocks. Its
features are like those of the measure that
provided for Medina stone pavement. The
sub-foundation is to be of hydraulic cement
concrete six inches in depth, overlaid with sand.
Upon this the granite blocks, from three to
four and half inches thick, seven to fourteen
inches long and six inches in depth are to be
placed on edge. 1t is provided that the spaces
between the blocks are to be filled
hot. until all interstices filled
to the surface of the blocks. The cement
must be of the best pitch bitumen, mixed with
not loss than 10 per cent. of refined Trinidad as
phaltum. The whole roadway is then TO be
covered with a half-inch coat of sharp sand or
fine gravel. It is also provided that the space
between the street railroad tracks shall be
powdered and covered two inches thick with bank
sand. The street railroad is required TO pay
assessment breadth of eighteen feet
throughout the length of the improved por tions
of the street. The ordinance was read the first
time
Vice president Malott in a communication re-
newed mis- proposition to begin work at once
the viaduct if the city would assume the liabili-
ty of possible judgments in suits now pending
After spirited discussion 1t was again rejected,
the argument being that the Union Railway
Company knew well the burdens it was taEfng
in accepting the ordinance for this work.
Councilman Cummings brought up indirectly
the natural-gas question in a new phase. It was
through a resolution to return to N. S. Huey
the check he had given the city clerk for rent
of Tomlinson Hall for the mass meeting held a
few evenings since Co rejoice over the success of
the Consumers Trust Company in raising its
$500. 600 subscriptions to capital stock This eff
feet of the resolution was to give the company
the use of the hall that night, rent free.
Councilman Pearson opposed granting the
hall free to anyone unless it was in
liable organization" he continued, "then / will
favor the resolution. IL it is for gain, then it
ought to pay rent as we'll as any one else There
has been recently a great deal of cheap talk
about making the hall profitable as a source of
revenue. 1t went so far that charitable organ
ization refused its until 1t paid the rent.
He moved to refer the matter to the rental COM
mittee and city attorney.
Councilman Thalman opposed any reference
free of the hall whatever There should
be partislity, sentiment and no politics
about this matter" he said THE hall would
never bring revenue to the city if
everybody to have it without
charge" Councilman Stuckmeyer and
Reinecke thought that way. too, but they be-
lieved that the tax payers had paid for the
building there ought to be occasions when they
could have it free. Councilman Pearson said a
ms n he tax mt at hat
meeting. mo, not one sixth of them" he con-
tinued. eff this question was left to the people
the maiority OF them would say let the Consum
ers Trust pay the rent"
Councilman Cummings said the trust was not
a charitable organization, and that there
occasion for all this talk about the matter.
The company had simply asked to have the hall
rent free. bat he believed it would rather pay
than to have the hall free on the ground of char
ity. He was willing to withdraw the resolution,
but several councilmen objected to disposing of
the question in that way. and yea and nay
vote was taken, resulting IN for and against
the resolution. Those voting for the return of
the Huey check were Messrs. Cummings Haugh,
Mackey, McClelland.a McGroarty. Reinecke.
Smith. Stuckmeyer and Swain. Those against
it were Messrs. Coy, Dell. Dunn, Mack Pear
son. Smither. Thalman and Newland
An ordinance was introduced, read the first
time and referred to the city attorney, provid-
ing for the continuance of compensation to
fremen who are jured in the line of duty The
payment Is to be made for ninety days on the
recommendation of the chief fire engineer and
gives the chief power TO appoint substitutes to
act in the place of injured fremen, and to put
them on the payroll at wages paid regular fire.
men.
An ordinance requiring wholesale dealers in
fruits, vegetables and provisions to take out
license referred to the committee on judi
ciary. 1t provides that the license shall be good
for one year. and that the dealer shall pay 500
therefor. It Is also provided that it shall be
lawful for any dealer TO sell without such license
in less quantities than carload. A violation
of the ordinance subjects one to $50 fine and
revocation of license.
An attempt was made to take up the Washing
asphalt ordinance, but Councilman
Cummings presenting remonstrance against it
caused the Council TO adjourn, the question
threatened q long discussion. The remoustrance
was signed by James NJ. Bradshaw and Samuel
Dalzell. who favor Georgia granite, John NJ. Ju-
dab. who objects to asphalt because he does not
think it could be properly laid along the street
car tracks. and E. F. Ciaypool who wants no i'm